Football
Football

Electoral Board cancel verification process

NAIROBI, January 22 -The uncertainty surrounding Football Kenya Federation Elections took a different twist on Thursday when the Electoral Board announced the cancellation of the verification of clubs and delegates eligible to vote in the Branch elections slotted for Tuesday next week.

The exercise was planned to be held on Thursday and Friday in Nairobi but the Board disclosed they had to postpone the vetting to pave way for a meeting with world governing body FIFA scheduled on the same day.

“The Football Kenya Federation Electoral Board wishes to apologize to those who came to Nairobi for verification process, which was supposed to happen as earlier advertised for what was beyond the control of the board.

“Similarly, verification scheduled for Friday 22nd January 2016 will not take place to pave way for a meeting with FIFA scheduled on the same day. The Electoral Board shall advice on way forward in due course,” the statement from the Board Secretary, Irene Tindi declared.

On Wednesday, the board released the new dates for vetting and representatives from six branches were right in time for the activity that was to start at 1400 hours only to be stranded with no official communication coming from the Board.

The Board chaired by lawyer Donald Kipkorir has been criticized of failing to exercise its duties with reports claiming split between members that has led to the postponement of national elections thrice.

Another rescheduling is in the offing even as Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture Dr. Hassan Wario assured football stakeholders the polls will be conducted on February 10 with the national elections.

“I wrote to the chairman of the Electoral Board and he assured me 10th of February we will have spanking new FKF president and we are telling you whether it’s a man or woman, please change football so that we can go to the Africa Cup of Nations,” Wario stated last week Friday at this year’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Nairobi East, Nairobi West, Southern, Aberdares, Mt.Kenya and Central Rift branches were to be vetted on Thursday followed by verification of the remaining 14 branches on Friday.

Incumbent Sam Nyamweya who is seeking for a second term re-election will face competition from his former vice chairman Sammy Shollei, FKF-PL chairman Nick Mwendwa, KPL and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, business man Gor Semelang’o and former AFC Leopards Embakasi Branch chairman, Semi Aina.